diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 71922fb..251181b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 ⚡️ Delivers core agent functionality in just **~4,000** lines of code — **99% smaller** than Clawdbot's 430k+ lines.
 
-📏 Real-time line count: **3,932 lines** (run `bash core_agent_lines.sh` to verify anytime)
+📏 Real-time line count: **3,922 lines** (run `bash core_agent_lines.sh` to verify anytime)
 
 ## 📢 News
 
diff --git a/nanobot/utils/helpers.py b/nanobot/utils/helpers.py
index 8963138..8322bc8 100644
--- a/nanobot/utils/helpers.py
+++ b/nanobot/utils/helpers.py
@@ -1,83 +1,39 @@
 """Utility functions for nanobot."""
 
+import re
 from pathlib import Path
 from datetime import datetime
 
+
 def ensure_dir(path: Path) -> Path:
-    """Ensure a directory exists, creating it if necessary."""
+    """Ensure directory exists, return it."""
     path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     return path
 
 
 def get_data_path() -> Path:
-    """Get the nanobot data directory (~/.nanobot)."""
+    """~/.nanobot data directory."""
     return ensure_dir(Path.home() / ".nanobot")
 
 
 def get_workspace_path(workspace: str | None = None) -> Path:
-    """
-    Get the workspace path.
-    
-    Args:
-        workspace: Optional workspace path. Defaults to ~/.nanobot/workspace.
-    
-    Returns:
-        Expanded and ensured workspace path.
-    """
-    if workspace:
-        path = Path(workspace).expanduser()
-    else:
-        path = Path.home() / ".nanobot" / "workspace"
+    """Resolve and ensure workspace path. Defaults to ~/.nanobot/workspace."""
+    path = Path(workspace).expanduser() if workspace else Path.home() / ".nanobot" / "workspace"
     return ensure_dir(path)
 
 
-def get_sessions_path() -> Path:
-    """Get the sessions storage directory."""
-    return ensure_dir(get_data_path() / "sessions")
-
-
-def get_skills_path(workspace: Path | None = None) -> Path:
-    """Get the skills directory within the workspace."""
-    ws = workspace or get_workspace_path()
-    return ensure_dir(ws / "skills")
-
-
 def timestamp() -> str:
-    """Get current timestamp in ISO format."""
+    """Current ISO timestamp."""
     return datetime.now().isoformat()
 
 
-def truncate_string(s: str, max_len: int = 100, suffix: str = "...") -> str:
-    """Truncate a string to max length, adding suffix if truncated."""
-    if len(s) <= max_len:
-        return s
-    return s[: max_len - len(suffix)] + suffix
-
+_UNSAFE_CHARS = re.compile(r'[<>:"/\\|?*]')
 
 def safe_filename(name: str) -> str:
-    """Convert a string to a safe filename."""
-    # Replace unsafe characters
-    unsafe = '<>:"/\\|?*'
-    for char in unsafe:
-        name = name.replace(char, "_")
-    return name.strip()
+    """Replace unsafe path characters with underscores."""
+    return _UNSAFE_CHARS.sub("_", name).strip()
 
 
-def parse_session_key(key: str) -> tuple[str, str]:
-    """
-    Parse a session key into channel and chat_id.
-    
-    Args:
-        key: Session key in format "channel:chat_id"
-    
-    Returns:
-        Tuple of (channel, chat_id)
-    """
-    parts = key.split(":", 1)
-    if len(parts) != 2:
-        raise ValueError(f"Invalid session key: {key}")
-    return parts[0], parts[1]
-
 def sync_workspace_templates(workspace: Path, silent: bool = False) -> list[str]:
     """Sync bundled templates to workspace. Only creates missing files."""
     from importlib.resources import files as pkg_files
@@ -91,7 +47,6 @@ def sync_workspace_templates(workspace: Path, silent: bool = False) -> list[str]
     added: list[str] = []
 
     def _write(src, dest: Path):
-        """Write src content (or empty string if None) to dest if missing."""
         if dest.exists():
             return
         dest.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)